About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 116

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 116. Leave It to Me, Madam
“That’s right. I’d like you to drop her defense. And I’d appreciate it if you could tell me where she’s staying right now. Of course, I’m not asking you to do it for free.”
What Matilda Bilsty placed on the table was a purse that looked quite heavy.
Matilda Bilsty opened the purse to show its contents.
“This is the information fee for telling me where she is now, plus the compensation you’ll receive for dropping her defense. Sixty gold coins in total.”
It was double the retainer fee I had received from Priscilla.
Gillian glanced down at the purse of gold coins.
Gillian’s assistant, who had been observing the situation from his seat with sidelong glances, was equally astonished, his mouth falling open.
“If I win the trial, I’ll pay you a separate success fee. You’ll be able to earn more than you would have by standing on her side and securing a victory.”
Matilda Bilsty continued her persuasion with confident laughter.
“Besides, if you drop the defense early, you won’t face any criticism.”
Gillian interlaced his fingers together.
At this gesture, Matilda Bilsty silently rejoiced.
‘Heh, he must be conflicted.’
Matilda Bilsty also knew Gillian to be a money-obsessed miser. As such, she interpreted his grave expression as internal struggle.
“You’re the most capable lawyer in this territory, after all.”
“Hmm… Perhaps because the matter at hand is so grave. This is my first time encountering such a situation.”
Gillian let out a long sigh before speaking.
“I’ve given it serious thought for a moment now… and I’m afraid this is unavoidable. The sum is simply too substantial.”
Matilda Bilsty was certain that Gillian would abandon Priscilla’s defense.
‘Yes. Such a large sum, after all.’
Money earned simply by sitting still. There was no reason to refuse.
Soon, Gillian turned to his assistant.
“Draft a complaint and file it with the Court.”
At Gillian’s instruction, his assistant’s eyes widened.
“Pardon?”
“Write down what you’ve witnessed with your own eyes. Document how Countess Bilsty attempted to bribe the plaintiff’s counsel into abandoning the case in order to secure victory.”
Matilda Bilsty’s eyes went wide.
What came from Gillian’s mouth was truly an unexpected and absurd conclusion.
Gillian’s gaze toward Matilda Bilsty grew sharp.
“I do enjoy money quite a bit, you see. But what happened today is deeply insulting. I shall file a suit for emotional damages as compensation.”
Shocked by the unexpected response, Matilda Bilsty stammered helplessly as Wood, standing to the side, spoke instead.
“What? If you’re going to refuse, just refuse. What’s with the lawsuit?”
At Wood’s words, Matilda Bilsty snapped back to her senses.
“Unbelievable! What kind of insane bastard is this…? This is absolutely ridiculous.”
Then Gillian spoke to his assistant once more.
“Add insult and verbal abuse.”
Veins bulged on Matilda Bilsty’s forehead.
“How dare you! Do you have any idea who I am standing before you?”
“Add coercion and intimidation through abuse of authority.”
“You! Do you really think you can continue doing business in this territory after this?”
As Matilda’s voice rose, the scarred Muscleman clenched his fists tightly.
Crack.
When the sound of knuckles cracking echoed through the room, the Lawyer’s Office fell silent.
Everyone inside turned their gaze toward him.
“My lady, shall I teach him a lesson?”
To Matilda’s ears, it was music. But doing so would bring consequences.
Then her mind pivoted in a different direction.
What if Gillian and his Assistant were beaten so badly they couldn’t even speak?
If they were injured severely enough, they wouldn’t be able to appear in court to defend themselves.
All she had to do was prevent that.
While she pressured Priscilla, Melissa and Count Veloda Genoma would arrive to handle the aftermath.
If she played her cards right, she could even use The King as her backing.
With her calculations complete, Matilda snatched up her purse of gold coins and rose from her seat.
“You’ll regret missing this opportunity. And if I win, you should prepare yourself for me to have your office sign taken down.”
Matilda left the Lawyer’s Office and gave the Muscleman a nod.
“Beat him thoroughly. Do the job well, and this gold is yours.”
“Leave it to me, my lady.”
The Muscleman’s burly muscles tensed menacingly.
Gillian’s face went pale at the atmosphere suggesting he could snap bones as easily as twigs. His startled Assistant jumped to his feet.
“W-wait, are you serious, Countess? This doesn’t seem like a wise approach.”
“You should have watched who you were speaking to. A commoner, no less.”
Matilda felt a thrill of satisfaction at the lawyer’s panic.
“Let’s see how confident you’ll be after spending a few weeks recovering in the Hospital. We’ll see if you can maintain that swagger even if The King himself arrives.”
Matilda and Wood left the office.
Only the Muscleman, Gillian, and his Assistant remained inside the Lawyer’s Office.
As the scarred Muscleman approached him, Gillian forced a laugh.
“Ah, sir, I understand you’re tempted by the gold, but beating me wouldn’t be such a wise choice, so please calm down and—”
But the Muscleman kept advancing.
Gillian’s body went rigid. There was no way he could win this fight.
“Listen here, brother.”
At the rough, menacing tone, Gillian squeezed his eyes shut, hoping the pain would end with just a few lost teeth.
That was when it happened.
“That woman wrote a letter to her daughter and Count Veloda Genoma. She had the Mute Maid take it to the Communication Bureau, so her daughter should be arriving at the territory soon.”
“…?”
Gillian’s eyes widened in shock.
“Also, that woman received a letter from her daughter today. We plan to intercept the original appropriately.”
The Muscleman brushed Gillian’s cheek with his massive hand and let out a low chuckle.
“Brother, even if you had to sell your soul to the devil, make sure our teacher wins this case. And cry out loudly enough so it carries outside the window—make that woman let her guard down.”
He couldn’t understand why Matilda’s escort was taking Priscilla’s side.
However, once Gillian quickly understood that he was an ally, he shouted desperately toward the window.
“Oh no! Save me! Save me! Ahhhhhhh! I’m going to die!”
* * *
“Well, that’s how it turned out.”
Gillian relayed to me the matter that Matilda had come to discuss.
Both Gillian and Sir Jester were utterly astounded by her actions. But to me, it was perfectly characteristic of Matilda.
“I understand she hasn’t been in the fiefdom long, yet she moves with such speed. To think she’s already planted a spy within—at this rate, victory should come swiftly.”
As he said, deploying Madame Raber’s servant was indeed a sound choice.
Gillian examined the three original letters now in my possession, smirking briefly before releasing a weary sigh.
“Still, a critical variable remains. No matter how well I perform, I’m merely a provincial commoner’s advocate. Should the King and the Capital’s renowned Legal Guild intervene, the lawsuit will be difficult to win. If matters escalate to that point, the best I can achieve here is….”
Victory in the first trial alone.
He explained that normally the second and third trials would take considerable time, but if the King became involved, the pace was unpredictable.
“I wish there were a way to stop the King.”
At that point, I too felt helpless.
Of course, it wasn’t as though there were no methods at all. If Priscilla from the Raber Salon were to seduce the King, it could end easily.
But even thinking of it made me feel sick.
It was truly a method I despised using.
* * *
That night, Luderne Sellen learned of Priscilla’s situation through Ail.
The contents of the letters as well.
After brief consideration, Luderne Sellen withdrew a spatial transfer scroll from his pocket.
“I’ll leave this to you. The first trial victory should be assured, so focus on protecting her safety.”
At Luderne Sellen’s words, Ail bowed respectfully.
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
“Then I’ll return at the time of the Hunting Festival.”
* * *
During the first trial, I considered various scenarios.
Matilda’s pressure, the appearance of Count Veloda Genoma and Melissa, and if fortune favored it, even the King’s intervention.
But none of those events came to pass. Each day proved quieter than anticipated.
Of course, Matilda’s media campaign did appear in the newspapers.
Despite having a prestigious Count as a husband, she had committed adultery with a commoner doctor from the Capital and fled, and after years, she returned with ambitions to reclaim her title, attempting to cast out me who had devoted myself to the fiefdom, or so it claimed.
It was truly an absurd fiction.
And it was strange that the press agency I had purchased accepted Matilda’s money and published her claims verbatim.
Had Matilda spent enough to make the press agency betray me?
“Can we trust the press agency?”
At Sir Jester’s question, which mirrored my own doubt, Gillian casually scratched his ear as if unbothered.
“Well, if you ask it that way, I’d like to say yes, but…. Seeing is better than hearing, so visit the newspaper office directly.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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